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Political Science

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Apr 3, 2024

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1. (2.6.1) Analyze the factors that drove both the United States and the Soviet Union to pursue detente during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Consider economic, political, and security aspects in your response. - One of the main factors that drove the United States to pursue detente was the growing conflict in Vietnam and the economic and political divide it was causing within the country since many of the citizens wished for withdrawal from the war. As for security, the U.S. was becoming aware of the USSR’s growing nuclear strength as it almost was on parr with that of the United States’s. The Soviet Union also wished to pursue detente due to concerns that the economy was reaching stagnation because of political instability. The USSR also feared a risk of nuclear war between them and the U.S. 2. (2.6.1) Evaluate the role of Henry Kissinger in shaping US foreign policy during the period of detente. Discuss specific diplomatic initiatives and the philosophy underlying Kissinger's approach. - Henry Kissinger believed that previous U.S. presidents spent too much time focusing on winning in Vietnam, that they began to weaken the United States’s military strength and resources as tensions continued to rise with the USSR. Kissinger still sought detente; however, it was still meant to be a form of containment to limit the Soviet’s power and influence in Eastern Europe. Nixon and Kissinger instead pursued a policy of linkage in which the U.S. aimed for cooperations with the USSR and China to halt developing country’s revolutions in exchange for nuclear concessions and “economic fields.” 3. (2.6.1) Assess the impact of the SALT I Treaty signed in 1972. Discuss the key provisions of the treaty and its significance in the context of arms control during the period of detente - The SALT I treaty began by discussing the control of nuclear production instead of the reduction of it. The treaty ultimately ended with an agreement of a five-year halt on the production of ICBMs, SLBMs and long-range bombers. Despite regulations being placed on the production of these weapons MIRVs were still being debated between the countries. Overall, the signing of this treaty was a step towards peaceful coexistence between the US and USSR as military and nuclear arms began their reduction.
4. ( 2.6.1) Examine the geopolitical strategy of the Nixon administration, particularly the Nixon Doctrine, and its implications for US involvement in global conflicts. Discuss how this strategy was implemented during the period of detente. - Although Nixon was a hardline anti-communist, he was ready to lax his anti-communist policies if it favored the greater good for America. A good example of this is how he decided to pull out of the Vietnam war as he believed it was having a negative impact on the USA's control over the USSR. They also decided to take more note of other central powers such as Japan and China while trying to pursue a policy of détente and linkage (cooperation to stop revolutions from happening). The Nixon Doctrine was a policy which provided weapons and training to US 'client' states so they could fight for US ideals and objectives. 5. ( 2.6.1) Evaluate the role of economic factors in driving the Soviet Union to seek detente with the United States. Discuss the economic challenges faced by the Soviet Union and how detente was viewed as a solution to these challenges. - The USSR had many economic factors which drove them to consider détente with the US. They had bureaucratic insufficiency at the time, which caused a stagnation of their economy. It was also due to their high military defense spending which was to help close the gap between the US's systems and their own, and the aid they provided to other countries. These all combined had pushed the USSR to wishing for détente. 6. (2.6.1) Explore the impact of detente on Europe, with a focus on West Germany. Discuss the diplomatic initiatives, agreements, and changes in geopolitical dynamics that occurred in Europe during the period of detente. - Because of détente, developments in West Germany arose, which also helped aid détente even more. These developments would help settle old problems about its divisions among other things. Western Europe had also wished to make the entirety of Europe a more stable region, so they wished for détente as well. One of the major diplomatic initiatives was the USSR looking for international recognition of the new European borders (as there had been none since the Nazi defeat) (this would also aid the USSR as they wished their satellite states to be 'official'). In 1969, the SPD won the West German election, and they helped bring an end to hardline anti-communist policies. these really helped relax the tensions between East and West Germany and the cold war in general. This would eventually lead to pacts which had the USSR recognize links between West Berlin and West Germany, as well as a confirmation of the division of Germany.
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